Production of large Bose-Einstein condensates in a magnetic-shield-compatible hybrid trap

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the production of large sodium Bose-Einstein condensates using a hybrid trap compatible with magnetic shielding, achieving rapid formation of condensates with up to 7 million atoms.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid trapping method with small magnetic field gradients and gray molasses cooling to efficiently produce large BECs compatible with magnetic shielding.

Findings

Produced up to 7 million atoms in less than 30 seconds.

Achieved BEC in a trap compatible with magnetic shields.

Enhanced initial loading with gray molasses cooling.

Abstract

We describe the production of large ${}^{23} \mathrm{Na}$ Bose-Einstein condensates in a hybrid trap characterized by a weak magnetic field quadrupole and a tightly focused infrared beam. The use of small magnetic field gradients makes the trap compatible with the state-of-the-art magnetic shields. By taking advantage of the deep cooling and high efficiency of gray molasses to improve the initial trap loading conditions, we produce condensates composed of as much as $7$ million atoms in less than $30 \; \mathrm{s}$.